Phil Mendelson | |
---|---|
![]() Mendelson in 2017 | |
9th Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia | |
Assumed office June 13, 2012 | |
Preceded by | Kwame Brown |
Member of the Council of the District of Columbia at-large | |
In office January 2, 1999 – November 29, 2012 | |
Preceded by | Hilda Mason |
Succeeded by | Anita Bonds |
Member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission from District 3C06 | |
In office January 2, 1985 – January 2, 1997 | |
Preceded by | Kaj Strand |
Succeeded by | Jim Evans |
Member of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission from District 3C05 | |
In office January 2, 1981 – January 2, 1983 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Douglass Sloan |
Personal details | |
Born | Philip Heath Mendelson November 8, 1952 |
Political party | Democratic |
Education | American University (BA) |
Philip Heath Mendelson (born November 8, 1952[1]) is an American politician from Washington, D.C. He is currently Chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia, elected by the Council on June 13, 2012, following the resignation of Kwame R. Brown. He was elected to serve the remainder of Brown's term in a citywide special election on November 6, 2012,[2] and re-elected to a full term in 2014 and 2018.[3]
Early years
[edit]Mendelson came to Washington from Cleveland Heights, Ohio,[4] in 1970 to attend American University.[5] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[6]
Political career
[edit]Advisory Neighborhood Commission
[edit]1986–1989
[edit]In 1986, Mendelson ran unopposed to represent McLean Gardens in Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C.[7] He won the election.[8] In 1987, he was elected treasurer of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C.[9][10]
Mendelson fought against a developer who wanted to build an office building on Wisconsin Avenue near Upton Street NW.[11] Mendelson was opposed to the developer building an access road over a forested area.[11] After his community group filed a lawsuit to block the road, a court determined that the developer had the right to build the access road.[12] Mendelson tried to block the work using his own body, for which he was arrested.[13] The wooded area was razed, and the access road was built.[13]
Mendelson was critical of a policy of not assessing property taxes on a building until the roof is sealed.[14] One particular developer saved $500,000 of property taxes from delaying the sealing of the roof until later in the construction timeline.[14] Mendelson said the District of Columbia was losing significant amounts of tax revenue from what he called a loophole.[14]
In 1988, Mendelson was elected to the D.C. Democratic State Committee, representing Ward 3, in 1988.[15] He ran unopposed for reelection as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner,[16] and he won the election.[17] He was elected chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C soon thereafter.[18]
1990–1995
[edit]In 1990, Mendelson resigned from the D.C. Democratic State Committee to work for the reelection campaign of Jim Nathanson, member of the Council of the District of Columbia representing Ward 3.[19]
Also in 1990, Mendelson voiced his opposition to iron fences on the Duke Ellington Bridge in Rock Creek Park that were intended to prevent people from jumping off the bridge.[20] He said the fences did not prevent suicide because there were more suicide attempts from the bridge after the fences were erected.[20] An increase in suicide attempts from the nearby Taft Bridge demonstrated that the fences merely diverted, rather than deterred, suicide attempts in his opinion.[20] Mendelson argued against putting fences up again after the Duke Ellington Bridge's scheduled reconstruction and instead post phone numbers for suicide prevention hotlines on the bridge.[20] He was also opposed to building fences on the Taft Bridge.[21] A group of local mental health physicians was in favor of the fences, saying the fences were worthwhile even if they did not deter every suicide attempt.[21]
Mendelson ran unopposed for reelection as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in 1990;[22] he won the election.[23]
When the owner of a residential building proposed constructing townhouses in front of the apartments, Mendelson opposed the idea, saying, "It makes no sense to put eight townhouses on the lawn of an apartment building."[24]
In 1992, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly's task force on the homeless made a recommendation that shelter beds should be located equally throughout the District.[25] Other than a few churches, there were no homeless shelters located in Ward 3 at the time.[25] The ward's council member Jim Nathanson opposed establishing homeless shelters in Ward 3.[25] Mendelson was also opposed, saying, "There's no right for the homeless to get shelter in any neighborhood they want."[25]
In 1992, Mendelson ran unopposed for reelection as an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner[26] and won the election.[27] He was subsequently elected vice-chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C, which represents residents of Cleveland Park, Cathedral Heights, Massachusetts Heights, and Woodley Park.[28]
1996–1998
[edit]In 1996, Mendelson ran for an at-large seat on the Council.[29] Mendelson's campaign focused on holding government employees accountable, hiring qualified individuals for government positions, and cutting wasteful and ineffective programs.[6] Mendelson criticized incumbent Harold Brazil for conspicuously leaving a Council meeting just before a vote on whether to reduce pension benefits for newly hired police officers, firefighters, and teachers.[29] Mendelson said Brazil's absence was in line with many other important votes that Brazil for which was absent.[29] He said all Council members should accept a cut in salary due to recent poor performance of the Council.[30]
Brazil won the Democratic primary election.[31] Mendelson came in fourth place[31] with seven percent of the vote.[32] While Mendelson did not appear on the ballot for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, he was only individual to notify the Board of Elections that he was willing to represent Single Member District 3C06, and therefore the Board certified him the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for that district.[33]
When Congress began moving more and more responsibilities from the District Government to the District of Columbia Financial Control Board, Mendelson argued against doing so, saying that only removes accountability from Mayor Marion Barry.[34] Mendelson said that Mayor Barry should have enough control over the District in order for voters to be able to judge his actions.[34] "These end runs, so to speak, in a way empower Barry, because they get him off the hook and play into the voters' reliance on other people to solve our problems."[34]
In 1997, the District Department of Recreation tore down a playground in McLean Gardens because it was rotting, splintered, and dangerous.[35] Mendelson criticized the Department of Recreation for not informing residents ahead of time and for not replacing the equipment immediately.[35] A spokesperson for the Department said that the new playground equipment would be installed within two weeks.[35]
The Washington Post wrote an article detailing how the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs does not consistently enforce District laws, does not consistently collect the fees it is due, and has insufficient authority to do either.[36] Mendelson noted that residents build decks without permits and receive no penalty, and neighbors have no recourse.[36] Mendelson said that the Department could only advise residents of the law, and he advocated for giving the Department more authority to enforce the laws that it has purview over.[36] Mendelson later advocated against the Council's confirmation of W. David Watts as the agency's director, saying that the Council was not confirming the best individual for the position.[37] Mendelson continued to advocate for simplifying regulatory requirements and increasing enforcement.[38] When the Council unanimously passed a bill to reform the regulatory process, Mendelson said it was hastily written and had not been opened to enough public opinion.[39] Mendelson asked the Financial Control Board to overturn the Council's bill.[39] While Council member David Catania admitted the bill was not perfect, he also took issue with Mendelson's approach, saying it undermined District home rule.[39]
In 1998, the Financial Control Board considered repealing a law that required environmental impact statements for private projects costing more than $1 million.[40] The Financial Control Board said repealing the law would make it easier to do business in the District.[40] Mendelson opposed the repeal, saying that environmental impact statements can reveal potential public health hazards before they occur and that preparation of the statements is not sufficiently onerous to offset the potential benefits.[40] The Financial Control Board ended up increasing the threshold from $1 million to $5 million.[41]
Council of the District of Columbia
[edit]On June 14, 1998, Mendelson announced he would run again for an at-large seat on the Council of the District of Columbia.[42] Mendelson said the public needed to be better informed about the incumbent Council's meetings and votes.[43] He said residents only hear from Council members when they are up for reelection.[43]
Mendelson said the District should be proactive about recruiting developers and businesses, and he thought he could play a role in doing so as a member of the Council.[44] He also said the Council should do more during debates on education.[44]
Mendelson's candidacy was endorsed by the editorial board of The Washington Post[45] the Metropolitan Washington AFL–CIO,[44] the Sierra Club, and the tenant advocacy council TENAC.[46]
Mendelson came in first place in the Democratic primary election with 17 percent of the vote, advancing to the general election.[47]
Mayor Marion Barry endorsed Mendelson's candidacy in the general election.[48] The editorial board of The Washington Post endorsed independent candidate Beverly Wilbourn and Republican incumbent David Catania in the general election.[49]
Mendelson won the general election with 37 percent of the vote.[50][51] He was sworn in on January 2, 1999.[52] Because Mendelson had no seniority on the Council, Council Chair Linda W. Cropp did not assign him to chair any committees, but he was appointed as a representative to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.[53]
In 1999, Mendelson and Catania sponsored a bill to amend a law that required most contractors to hire a majority of District residents to complete contracts with the District government.[54] The new bill would reduce monetary penalties for noncompliance, and ban non-compliant companies from doing business with the District for three years.[54]
Mendelson criticized the Council for passing acts as emergency legislation, which bypasses Congressional review and lasts for a short amount of time, even though the acts were not intended to fill temporary or urgent needs.[55] Mendelson was opposed to Mayor Anthony Williams' proposal to have a children's theme park on islands in the Anacostia River.[56]
From 2005 to 2012[57] Mendelson served as the chair of the DC Council's Committee on the Judiciary. In 2011 he supported the effort to establish an elected attorney general[58][59] and pushed for an independent Forensic Science Crime Lab.[60]
Mendelson was re-elected in 2002,[61] 2006,[62] and 2010.[63]
In 2012, Kwame Brown resigned from the position of Chair of the Council.[64] In a vote of 11 to 1, the Council voted to appoint Mendelson to the position of interim Chair of the Council.[65] In a special election held in November 2012, Mendelson was elected by District voters to the position of Chair of the Council.[66] He was elected to a full term as chair in 2014.[3]
From a regional standpoint, Mendelson worked with his counterparts in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties to increase the minimum wage.[67][68]
Mendelson has received national attention for his work to bring Budget Autonomy for the District,[69][70] the city's laws on gun control[71] and same-sex marriage legalization.[72][73]
2016
In 2016 Mendelson overhauled Mayor Bowser's plan to close DC General homeless shelter and build multiple smaller shelters in its place. He shepherded Universal Paid Leave through the Council.[74][75]
2018
[edit]Mendelson ran for a third term, facing progressive challenger Ed Lazere, and won renomination with 63% of the vote.[76] He won the general election over Libertarian candidate Ethan Bishop-Henchman.[77]
In 2019, Mendelson proposed changes that would significantly limit the ability for the public to access government records through the Freedom of Information Act. Mendelson claimed that the changes were necessary to limit frivolous requests while activists insisted that the changes would prevent the public from uncovering fraud, waste, and abuses. Mendelson was also criticized for introducing the changes as a technical amendment, not separate legislation, which would require a public hearing.[78]
Mendelson was an active proponent for a no-bid, sole-source contract to launch the District's sports betting program. Mendelson insisted that a competitive bid for the $215 million contract would result in unacceptable delays of two to three years. He downplayed the inexperience of local partners and claimed that any award would risk conflicts of interest.[79] After the Council narrowly approved the bid, it was discovered that the main local partner had no employees and was led by a Maryland resident.[80]
2021
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Phil_Mendelson.jpg/220px-Phil_Mendelson.jpg)
After 3 years of budget battles, Mendelson was finally able to fully fund the Tipped Worker Fairness Act of 2018[81] a long-sought compromise bill stemming from the battle over Initiative 77. Among the many additional regulations surrounding hospitality venue operations, this bill formed the Tipped Workers Coordinating Council within the DC government to oversee the implementation of the law and act as a formal body to make policy recommendations to the appropriate District agency.[82] Importantly this council is made up of directors of several District agencies along with 4 seats reserved for workers, 2 appointed by the Mayor and 2 by the DC Council Chairman.[83] Mendelson appointed known hospitality advocate Zachary Hoffman in May 2021[82] with the other seat vacant for some time.
Other activities
[edit]Mendelson has served as a trustee of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City,[38] a member of the board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and as the president of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations.
Personal life
[edit]Mendelson is divorced from Constance G. (Connie) Ridgway.[84][85][86]
Mendelson and Ridgway have a daughter, Adelaide Marie Ridgway-Mendelson, born July 29, 2000.[87]
Mendelson lives in Capitol Hill.[88]
Electoral history
[edit]1996
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Harold Brazil | 17,465 | 42 | |
Democratic | Joseph P. Yeldell | 9,230 | 22 | |
Democratic | John Capozzi | 6,092 | 15 | |
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 3,117 | 7 | |
Democratic | Kathryn A. Pearson-West | 2,015 | 5 | |
Democratic | Paul Savage | 1,941 | 5 | |
Democratic | Ronnie Edwards | 791 | 2 | |
Democratic | Ernest E. Johnson | 664 | 2 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 258 | 1 |
1998
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 14,089 | 17 | |
Democratic | Linda Moody | 11,532 | 14 | |
Democratic | William H. "Rev" Bennett II | 11,336 | 14 | |
Democratic | Bill Rice | 11,087 | 14 | |
Democratic | Phyllis J. Outlaw | 10,769 | 13 | |
Democratic | Sabrina Sojourner | 9,725 | 12 | |
Democratic | Don Reeves | 4,130 | 5 | |
Democratic | Charles Gaither | 3,721 | 5 | |
Democratic | Greg Rhett | 2,646 | 3 | |
Democratic | Kathryn A. Pearson-West | 2,485 | 3 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 718 | 1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 71,799 | 37 | |
Republican | David A. Catania | 40,200 | 21 | |
DC Statehood | Hilda Mason | 28,615 | 15 | |
Independent | Beverly J. Wilbourn | 22,946 | 12 | |
Independent | Malik Z. Shabazz | 15,644 | 8 | |
Umoja | Mark Thompson | 9,733 | 5 | |
Independent | Sandra "SS" Seegars | 2,764 | 1 | |
Write-in | 648 | 0 |
2002
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 38,681 | 43 | |
Democratic | Beverly Wilbourn | 26,379 | 29 | |
Democratic | Dwight E. Singleton | 16,749 | 19 | |
Democratic | M. Muhammad Shabazz | 4,098 | 5 | |
Democratic | Al-Malik Farrakhan | 3,655 | 4 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 933 | 1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 90,316 | 47 | |
Republican | David A. Catania | 51,698 | 27 | |
Independent | Eugene Dewitt Kinlow | 17,522 | 9 | |
DC Statehood Green | Michele Tingling-Clemmons | 13,828 | 7 | |
Independent | Chris Ray | 5,879 | 3 | |
Independent | A.D. "Tony" Dominguez | 4,395 | 2 | |
Independent | Ahmad Braxton-Jones | 3,708 | 2 | |
Independent | Kweku Toure | 3,304 | 2 | |
Write-in | 1,115 | 1 |
2006
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 62,776 | 64 | |
Democratic | A. Scott Bolden | 35,486 | 36 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 468 | 0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 90,599 | 51 | |
Independent | David A. Catania | 58,293 | 33 | |
DC Statehood Green | Ann C. Wilcox | 12,390 | 7 | |
Independent | Antonio "Tony" Dominguez | 8,759 | 5 | |
Republican | Marcus Skelton | 8,199 | 5 | |
Write-in | 912 | 1 |
2010
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 77,127 | 63 | |
Democratic | Michael D. Brown | 34,829 | 28 | |
Democratic | Dorothy Douglas | 6,922 | 6 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 812 | 1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 105,296 | 56 | |
Independent | David A. Catania | 57,163 | 31 | |
DC Statehood Green | David Schwartzman | 12,697 | 7 | |
Independent | Richard Urban | 9,668 | 5 | |
Write-in | 1,839 | 1 |
2012
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 174,742 | 71 | |
Democratic | Calvin H. Gurley | 69,342 | 28 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 3,017 | 1 |
2014
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 69,138 | 81 | |
Democratic | Calvin H. Gurley | 15,178 | 18 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 825 | 1 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 138,066 | 78 | |
Republican | Kris Hammond | 12,114 | 7 | |
Independent | John C. Cheeks | 6,949 | 4 | |
DC Statehood Green | G. Lee Aikin | 5,930 | 3 | |
Libertarian | Kyle Walker | 3,674 | 2 | |
Write-in | 849 | 0 |
2018
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 48,848 | 63.02 | |
Democratic | Ed Lazere | 28,280 | 36.48 | |
Democratic | Write-in | 384 | 0.5 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Phil Mendelson | 198,639 | 89.13 | |
Libertarian | Ethan Bishop-Henchman | 18,708 | 8.39 | |
Write-in | 5,516 | 2.48 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Voters Guide 2006 Supplement" (PDF). The Washington Informer. September 24, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008.
- ^ a b "Certified Results, Special Election, 2012". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. April 14, 2014. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Certified Results, General Election, 2014". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ Klein, Allison (June 13, 2012). "Mendelson is a man of detail, not drama". The Washington Post. p. A1.
- ^ "About Phil". Phil Mendelson: DC Council Chairman. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ a b "D.C. Council Races: At Large". The Washington Post. September 5, 1996. p. DC2.
- ^ "Advisory Neighborhood Commissions". The Washington Post. October 30, 1986. p. DC11.
- ^ "Winners". The Washington Post. November 13, 1986. p. DC7.
- ^ "ANC Actions". The Washington Post. February 5, 1987. p. J5.
- ^ "ANC Actions". The Washington Post. June 4, 1987. p. DC5.
- ^ a b Wheeler, Linda (June 10, 1987). "Protesters, Court Stall Building Of Road in NW". The Washington Post. p. D3.
- ^ Wheeler, Linda (June 17, 1987). "Go-Ahead Granted on Disputed NW Road". The Washington Post. p. D9.
- ^ a b Pae, Peter (June 23, 1987). "Wooded Area Razed for Disputed NW Access Road". The Washington Post. p. B3.
- ^ a b c Crenshaw, Albert B. (September 24, 1988). "Building's Unfinished Roof Gives Developer Big Shelter". The Washington Post. p. E1.
- ^ Sherwood, Tom (May 5, 1988). "Jackson's Landslide Falls Short of Hopes: Lack of D.C. Organization Cited Dukakis' D.C. Vote Less Than Mondale's in 1984". The Washington Post. p. D1.
- ^ "Advisory Neighborhood Commission". The Washington Post. November 3, 1988. p. J5.
- ^ "District Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Election Votes Tabulated". The Washington Post. November 11, 1988. p. C4.
- ^ Barker, Karlyn (October 25, 1989). "Metro's Zoo Directions Don't Tell Whole Story: Cleveland Park Feeling Short-Changed". The Washington Post. p. D5.
- ^ Abramowits, Michael (March 15, 1990). "Making—and Not Making—Hard Budget Choices". The Washington Post. p. DC3.
- ^ a b c d Butler, Josephine; Mendelson, Phil (March 24, 1990). "Fences That Have Failed" (opinion). The Washington Post. p. A20.
- ^ a b Webb, Margaret K. (May 24, 1990). "New Debate On Suicide Barriers: Issue Dominates Taft Bridge Meetings". The Washington Post. p. DC1.
- ^ "Advisory Neighborhood Commissions". The Washington Post. November 1, 1990. p. H8.
- ^ Armstrong, Jenice (November 15, 1990). "Incumbents Sail Into ANC Posts; 176 Commissioners Reelected With Little or No Opposition". The Washington Post. p. J1.
- ^ Greene, Jon (July 16, 1992). "Town House Plan Gets Hearing". The Washington Post. p. DC2.
- ^ a b c d Castaneda, Ruben (August 17, 1992). "Panel Would Divvy Up Beds for the Homeless: Equal Share Envisioned in All D.C. Wards". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ Sutner, Shaun (October 29, 1992). "New ANC Borders Spark Fierce Fights for Unpaid Posts". The Washington Post. p. DC7.
- ^ Sutner, Shaun (November 19, 1992). "267 ANC Seats Filled in Vote, but 32 Remain Open". The Washington Post. p. DC4.
- ^ "News Near You". The Washington Post. February 4, 1993. p. DC4.
- ^ a b c Harris, Hamil R; Woodlee, Yolanda (July 25, 1996). "Challenger Says Brazil Gets Scarce for the Tough Votes". The Washington Post. p. DC1.
- ^ Harris, Hamil R (September 7, 1996). "Despite D.C. Budget Woes, It Still Pays to Be on Council: Salaries Are Among Highest in the Country". The Washington Post. p. B1.
- ^ a b "District Primary Election Results". The Washington Post. September 11, 1996. p. A2.
- ^ a b "Certified Results, Primary Election, 1996". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. September 20, 1996. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ Wheeler, Linda; Harris, Hamil R (November 21, 1996). "ANC Winners Declared; 42 Positions Have No Takers". The Washington Post. p. DC7.
- ^ a b c Williams, Vanessa (March 2, 1997). "Barry Puts Positive Spin on His Reduced Role". The Washington Post. p. B1.
- ^ a b c Horwitz, Sari (June 11, 1997). "NW Children's Playground Is No More; Teary Tots, Irate Parents Find City Dismantled It Without Notice". The Washington Post. p. B3.
- ^ a b c Loeb, Vernon; Powell, Michael (August 27, 1997). "A Critical D.C. Agency Fails to Mind Its Affairs: Regulations Unenforced, Fees Uncollected". The Washington Post. p. A1.
- ^ Williams, Vanessa (September 15, 1997). "D.C. Council Confirms Its Critics' Fears". The Washington Post. p. C1.
- ^ a b Mendelson, Phil (February 1, 1998). "Roadblock to Real Reform..." (op-ed). The Washington Post. p. C10.
- ^ a b c Williams, Vanessa (February 12, 1998). "Activist Asks Control Board To Overturn Bill: Request Angers Council, Home Rule Advocates". The Washington Post. p. DC1.
- ^ a b c Ferster, Andrea; Mendelson, Phil (April 26, 1998). "...And One That Needs To Stay on the Books" (op-ed). The Washington Post. p. 48.
- ^ Vise, David A. (May 29, 1998). "D.C. Board Caps Term by Easing Business Rules". The Washington Post. p. A1.
- ^ "Civic Activist Seeks At-Large Seat". The Washington Post. June 14, 1998. p. B3.
- ^ a b Williams, Vanessa (August 19, 1998). "At-Large Candidates Criticize Council on Schools". The Washington Post. p. B8.
- ^ a b c Powell, Michael (September 6, 1998). "At-Large Candidates Try To Stand Out in a Crowd; Campaigners Stress Ideas to Bolster Business Community, D.C. Council". The Washington Post. p. B1.
- ^ "For D.C. Council" (editorial). The Washington Post. September 10, 1998. p. A22.
- ^ "Phil Mendelson". The Washington Post. September 12, 1998. p. DC6.
- ^ Powell, Michael; Cottman, Michael H. (September 16, 1998). "Williams Wins Mayoral Primary: District's Ex-Finance Chief Trounces Democratic Field". The Washington Post. p. A1.
- ^ Montgomery, David (October 8, 1998). "After 3 Weeks, Barry Backs Entire Democratic Slate". The Washington Post. p. B1.
- ^ "At Large: Wilbourn & Catania" (editorial). The Washington Post. October 23, 1998. p. A26.
- ^ Montgomery, David (November 4, 1998). "Mendelson, Catania Win: Veteran Council Member Hilda Mason Is Ousted". The Washington Post. p. A35.
- ^ "Result Chart: District of Columbia". The Washington Post. November 4, 1998. p. A37.
- ^ Williams, Vanessa (January 3, 1999). "7 Members Sworn In, Altering D.C. Council; Lawmakers Promise to Bolster Oversight". The Washington Post. p. B4.
- ^ Williams, Vanessa (January 5, 1999). "Council Names Committee Chairmanships". The Washington Post. p. B4.
- ^ a b Pyatt, Rudolph A. Jr. (January 21, 1999). "Work Here, Hire Here—Or Pay Dearly". The Washington Post. p. E3.
- ^ Williams, Vanessa (February 8, 1999). "Study Urges D.C. Council to Reorganize". The Washington Post. p. B4.
- ^ "Fast Decision Urged on Children's Island Park". The Washington Post. February 14, 1999. p. C3.
- ^ "Councilmember Phil Mendelson - News". dcclims1.dccouncil.us. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ Sherwood, Tom. "Elected Attorney General Possible for DC". WRC-TV. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "PR19-0145 - Elected Attorney General Referendum Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2011". lims.dccouncil.us. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "D.C. Crime Lab: An Experiment in Forensic Science (Second of Two Parts)". www.govtech.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ a b "Certified Results, General Election, 2002". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 21, 2002. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "Certified Results, General Election, 2006" (PDF). District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 21, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ a b "Certified Results, General Election, 2010". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. November 19, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
- ^ Wilber, Del Quentin; Craig, Tim (June 6, 2012). "D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown resigns after he is charged with bank fraud". The Washington Post.
- ^ Craig, Tim (June 13, 2012). "Mendelson, Brown chosen to lead D.C. Council amid acrimonious debate". The Washington Post.
- ^ Phipps-Evans, Michelle (November 15, 2012). "The Council Shuffle Begins". Washington Informer. Washington, D.C. p. 5.
- ^ "How D.C. and 2 Maryland Counties Coordinated a Minimum Wage Hike". Governing the states and localities. December 9, 2013.
- ^ "Plan would raise minimum wage for half of D.C. region to $11.50 by 2016". The Washington Post. October 9, 2013.
- ^ Dick, Jason (March 28, 2016). "What a Long, Strange Case: D.C. Budget Autonomy".
- ^ "Chairman Mendelson's Statement on Budget Autonomy Decision – Chairman Phil Mendelson". Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "DC Will Not Appeal Gun Law To Supreme Court". The Washington Post. October 5, 2017.
- ^ "Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009". DC Council. October 6, 2009.
- ^ "D.C. Council approves same-sex marriage bill". The Washington Post. December 16, 2009.
- ^ "D.C. Council Approves 'Smart, Fair, Comprehensive' Paid Leave Program the District Needs and Deserves, Women's Leader Says". www.nationalpartnership.org. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "D.C. Council votes for expansive paid family and medical leave for private-sector workers". The Washington Post. December 20, 2016.
- ^ Jamison, Peter (January 24, 2018). "Head of influential think tank to challenge D.C. Council chairman". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ Mellendorf, Hallie (November 6, 2018). "Head of influential think tank to challenge D.C. Council chairman". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- ^ Jamison, Peter (May 8, 2019). "FOIA restrictions would shield D.C. officials who use email for personal business". The Washington Post.
- ^ Nirappil, Fenit (July 9, 2019). "D.C. Council approves no-bid sports gambling contract". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
- ^ Thompson, Steve (August 28, 2019). "The little firm that got a big chunk of D.C.'s lottery and sports gambling contract has no employees". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ^ "DC Council officially overturns Initiative 77, killing minimum-wage increase". October 16, 2018.
- ^ a b "Tipped Workers Coordinating Council | does".
- ^ "D.C. Law Library - § 32–1009.02. Tipped Workers Coordinating Council".
- ^ DeBonis, Mike (August 1, 2008). "Political Potpourri". Washington City Paper.
- ^ Timberg, Craig; Hsu, Spencer (November 21, 2002). "Status Quo Election Limits Council Members' Upward Mobility". The Washington Post. p. T2.
- ^ Jamison, Peter (March 4, 2017). "Phil Mendelson beat the odds to run D.C. Will his luck hold in the Trump era?". The Washington Post.
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- ^ Janezich, Larry (September 12, 2016). "City Council Chair Mendelson Purchases Hill East Home Across From Watkins School". Capitol Hill Corner. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ^ "Certified Results, Primary Election, 1998". District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics. September 25, 1998. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
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